Lennox Higgins with a ripper cobia which measured 137cm!
Congratulations Lennox, please call into the store to collect your $50 gift voucher.
Catch of the week winner - Lennox Higgins
Inshore & Offshore
Unfortunately the weather window that was predicted for early this week did not eventuate, keeping most of the bigger boats on the trailer for another week. That said the wind did ease enough for some boats to get out and fish our inshore reefs and there were some really encouraging signs for those who made the effort.
The pelagic action has remained strong with good numbers of both school mackerel and spanish mackerel showing up around Burnett Heads. Spinning Flasha spoons around the leads and any areas holding bait has been a reliable way to get amongst the schoolies, while the spanish have shown a clear preference for a whole yakka or slimy mackerel on a balloon rig. Trolling a well presented whole garfish or bonito on a set of gang hooks on a Reaper Rig has also been a very consistent method for covering ground and finding where these fish are sitting. The cobia fishing has also been nothing short of exceptional with some really quality fish around, most of them sitting between 90cm and 1.2m which is a fantastic size and absolutely brilliant eating when bled and iced properly. For those wanting to target these fish, pushing slightly wider to the common wrecks in around 20 metres of water or more will give you the best chance. These fish are not fussy at all and will eat just about any soft plastic or vibe that can get down to their level. Position the boat down current of the structure, cast up, let the lure sink to the bottom and work it back with a mix of hops and pauses, or use big slow lifts of the rod when fishing a vibe to create plenty of action before letting it sink back down. They fight exceptionally hard for their size so be ready for a battle especially around reef and wreck country!
Good numbers of trevally and queenfish have also been around with the Artificial Reef off Elliott Heads holding great numbers. Lure anglers hopping soft plastics and vibes around the structure and bait schools have been getting the most consistent results. Some quality grunter and grass sweetlip have also been caught at a number of the common inshore marks with strips of mullet fillet and small squid the standout baits, and both species responding best during the late afternoon and into the early night. Fingers crossed the weather cooperates soon and gets the bigger boats back out wide!
Lochie Currie with a solid spanish mackerel
Tom Martin with his first ever cobia
Burnett River
The Burnett is shaping up for a sensational winter season and despite the water cooling and the winter species coming on the chew, there are still some summer species hanging around in decent numbers. It is already becoming clear that the flush from the recent flooding is having a positive long term impact on this system, with the quality and variety of fish being caught a real reflection of that.
The bream fishing has been the real standout this week and the Burnett is by far our best local system for targeting quality bream during winter. The last week in particular has already thrown up some impressive fish over 40cm with most of these bigger models coming from large structures such as rock walls, bridges and jetties. Strips of mullet fillet, whole sprat and whole prawns have been the go to baits and the key is to fish with as light a sinker as possible to keep the presentation looking completely natural. A lot of the bites have been coming as the bait drifts down through the water column, so casting up current and retrieving the slack line as the current pushes the bait along the structure is a very effective technique. For those targeting these fish on lures, the same principle applies with keeping things as light and finesse as possible being the priority. Small curl tail or prawn soft plastics and crab imitation lures rigged on a super light and sharp jig head will be the standouts this season, as these bream can be very finicky and getting the hook up right makes a significant difference to your conversion rate.
The grunter have also been around in great numbers through the Town Reach area and down towards the mouth along Kirbys Wall, Fairymead and the North Wall, responding well to the same baits that have been getting the bream. Estuary cod and mangrove jack are also still being encountered as the summer species linger, with these fish seeking out the deeper and heavier cover as the water cools. A well presented live bait around deep holes, rock bars, fallen trees and bridge pylons is still your best chance at one of these fish. The crabbing was also firing with the big tides last week so keep an eye on the next set of bigger tides and make sure the pots are ready to go!
Laura Betts with a quality estuary cod caught locally
Kolan River
Winter is well and truly on its way and the Kolan has been reflecting that over the last week with some really quality bread and butter fishing on offer throughout the system. The cooler water has these fish feeding with a lot more consistency and the sessions have been very enjoyable for those getting out there.
Bream, whiting, flathead and grunter have all been caught in good numbers with the areas towards the mouth in the cleaner water producing the most consistent results. Anglers who have put in the time to pump fresh yabbies have been having the best sessions, particularly on the bream and whiting up on the shallow sand flats. In the deeper areas a whole sprat has been the standout bait with a strip of mullet fillet also a reliable option to have out at the same time. For the lure anglers, small curl tail soft plastics and shallow diving hard body lures have worked really well up on the shallow flats with quality flathead being a consistent reward, while topwater lures retrieved across the shallow flats and yabbie beds have been a great option for the bream and whiting. The incoming tide has been the prime time to be fishing these shallower areas, though these fish can be caught at just about any stage of the tide depending on where you are positioned in the system. The crabbing has also been on fire with the big tides recently getting the crabs on the move, with most of the better numbers coming from pots placed in the main river channels. Keep an eye on the next set of bigger tides and get those pots back in the water!
The barra and jack have gone a bit quiet over the last week which is very much expected as the water temperature continues to drop. For those still keen on chasing these fish, targeting the deeper structures such as rock bars and holes with a live bait is going to be your most reliable approach as these fish push further into the deeper cover as winter sets in.
Junior team member James Cocking with a monster 55cm mangrove jack
caught on an Irukandji 7 inch Megaprawn
Elliott River
The Elliott continues to be in exceptional form and is quite simply fishing as well as we have seen it in a long time. Despite the temperatures beginning to cool the summer species have remained strong with mangrove jack and the odd threadfin salmon still being found up river in the deeper holes. Some great quality estuary cod have also been caught in the same areas as these fish too. Anglers spending the time to collect live bait have had the most success, and fishing the run out tide continues to produce the best results, but be sure to fish right until the tide change if you can.
As mentioned last week the whiting have been showing up in much better numbers and we have continued to see that this week. The incoming tide is still when most of the action is happening, as these whiting are pushing up onto the shallow sand bars and yabbie beds as they fill up with water. Having a fresh yabbie, beach worm, or even a solider crab drifting over the shallows is a great way to get these whiting to bite. With the big full moon tides last week, the night time sessions produced the better quality fish, with those fishing the run in tide from the late afternoon right into the night getting some very good numbers of whiting, and even some big bream and solid grunter mixed in too.
The flathead have also continued to be a standout in the Elliott, with some massive fish up to 80cm being caught quite regularly. Remember that flathead 75cm and over must be handled with care and returned to the water promptly without harm. These fish are breeders and are vital for future flathead stocks in our local waterways. Most of the flathead being caught have averaged between 40cm and 55cm, which are the perfect eating size. Of course, you can catch a flathead pretty much anywhere, but the anglers doing best have been fishing super shallow water towards the bottom of the tide. These flathead still seem to bee warming up in the shallows, and they have their eye on the summer whiting so don't be afraid to throw some bigger lures around that look just like a whiting.
Tariq Moore with a big queenfish caught in the Elliott
Baffle Creek
The Baffle has had a really solid week of fishing, particularly on the bread and butter species which have well and truly come to life as the water temperature has dropped. Just like the Kolan, the cooler conditions have these fish feeding more actively and the sessions have been very consistent for those targeting the right areas at the right stage of the tide.
The shallow sand flats around the mouth of the system have been producing a great variety of fish with flathead, bream, whiting and grunter all being caught in close proximity to each other. Having a few different bait options out at once has been a smart approach as on any given day these fish can show a clear preference for one over another. Whole sprat, strips of mullet fillet and fresh yabbies have all been working well depending on the species being targeted. The incoming tide has been the most productive time to be fishing these shallower areas while the run out tide is the cue to shift into the deeper drop offs and channels, particularly for the grunter and flathead that retreat into these areas as the water drains off the flats.
The mangrove jack along the shallow mangrove lined edges have started to push deeper as the water cools, which is completely normal behaviour for this time of year. Skip casting soft plastics into the structure can still produce some great fish but the results have been less consistent than they were a few weeks ago. For the lure anglers, switching to prawn or paddle tail soft plastics worked along the rock bars is a great winter technique for targeting these fish in their new holding areas. For the bait anglers live bait remains the number one option, though a simple strip of mullet fillet is well worth trying when the fish are being particularly finicky. The bigger tides this weekend should also fire up some pelagic action around the mouth and towards Winfield, with school sized GT and queenfish likely to show up around the pressure edges where current is hitting the islands and river bends, so always keep a light rod rigged and ready to go!
Steve Davidson with a ripper mangrove jack
Lake Gregory
Lake Gregory continues to build week on week and the fishing has taken another noticeable step up as the bass schools grow larger and more concentrated. This is exactly what we expect to see at this time of year and those who have been putting in the time have been experiencing some genuinely exceptional sessions.
The late afternoon bite has been the standout window by a clear margin this week with the schools really switching on in that last hour or two of daylight. Finding a school and staying persistent has been the key, as these fish can be frustratingly quiet for periods before turning on and making it all worthwhile. Small strolling soft plastics and vibe lures like the Rapala Crush City The Jerk or the Barambah Viben8or have been the standout presentations for getting bites from these schooled up fish. Those running sounders have had a clear advantage in locating the schools and positioning the boat correctly to ensure every cast is getting in front of fish, and those with live scope have taken that advantage even further by being able to watch individual fish react and adjust their presentation accordingly.
For those getting on the water right at first light there has still been a good early morning bite along the shallow weed edges with topwater lures producing some exciting strikes. Any shady areas are well worth a few extra casts during this window as these fish will often be sitting tight in these spots waiting for something to land on the surface above them. Get on the lake soon because this winter season is shaping up to be a very good one!
Don Patterson with a cracking 51cm Lake Gregory Bass
Lake Monduran
As predicted, these barra have started to become noticeably more spooky as the water temperature continues to drop and finesse presentations are quickly becoming the most important tool in an angler's kit at the dam right now. Strolling lures and fly lures are already accounting for some impressive numbers of fish with a simple slow and steady roll being all that is needed to get these fish to commit.
For those running live scope the late afternoon and into the night has continued to be the most consistent and productive time to be on the water without question. As the light drops these fish rise higher in the water column and become significantly more active, making them both easier to locate and more willing to eat. Once you have a fish turned and following, keep winding and do not stop until you either get a bite or the fish pulls off. If you think you are winding too fast, the chances are you are not, so keep the pace up until the fish tells you otherwise and then adjust from there on each subsequent cast. The areas around Insane Bay, Hearts Bay, 2 Mile and H up the back of the dam have been holding the best numbers of fish and are well worth spending some quality time scoping through.
For those fishing the edges the topwater bite has slowed right down but has not completely switched off, with some local anglers still managing great fish and plenty of follows right at first light by pushing right up into the dense weed areas at the back of the dam. Stealth is absolutely critical for this style of fishing so take your time getting into position and keep things as quiet as possible. For those covering the windblown edges and points throughout the day, finding a point with a deep channel running alongside it is a reliable starting point as these fish use those channels to move and will push up onto the adjacent flats to feed. Working a Samaki Redic DS80 or the shallower Samaki Redic MS80 with ultra slow twitches and long pauses through these areas keeps the lure in the strike zone for as long as possible, which during winter is exactly what these spooky fish need before committing to a bite.
Alex Sharpe with a 103cm barra caught locally on one our
Shimano Sakana III rods using just 12lb braid!
From the team at Tackle World Bundaberg
Live the Tackle World L.I.F.E - Local Independent Fishing Experts
Liked this report? You can read our others here
